Remember, The Public Wants Federal Support for Stem Cell Research
Bioconservatives are wasting no time and getting right down to business misrepresenting both progressive approaches to and public opinion on key science policy issues like stem cell research. As LifeNews.com warned last week: “Barack Obama has appointed another bioethics advisor whose appointment [sic], pro-life observers say, makes it clear he will force taxpayers to fund embryonic stem cell research. The appointment of Alta Charo, a former member of Bill Clinton’s Bioethics Advisory Commission, also could pave the way for human cloning.”
First, congratulations to Alta, who serves on the Science Progress advisory board. Second, a majority of the American public supports embryonic stem cell research, so suggesting that moving away from the Bush administration’s policy would “force” taxpayers to support the science is misinformed. Then again, the Bush administration’s policy has consistently been at odds with public opinion on the issue.
Polling data from several major news outlets over the past few years indicates that Americans want to see more federal support of stem cell research in pursuit of life-saving cures. As CAP Senior Fellow Ruy Teixeira explains:
A mid-January 2007 Los Angeles Times poll found that 59 percent supported “increasing federal funding for embryonic stem cell research,” while just 32 percent opposed such increased funding. In an ABC News/Washington Post poll around the same time, the public, by 55 to 38, supported “loosening the current restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.” An AP poll in mid-December 2006 found that a 56 to 41 majority favored easing restrictions on using federal money for embryonic stem cell research. And by a 68 to 27 majority in a late July 2006 NBC News/Wall Street Journal survey, the public endorsed “expanding federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, which is the practice of conducting scientific research on cells extracted from human embryos in an attempt to find cures or treatments for diseases.”
If there is any “forcing” going on, it is the public that is forcing its leaders to pay attention to the issues citizens care about, and stem cell research funding is one of them.
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